Applicators

1. An applicator comprising:

an applicator body;

an applicator pad attached at a front part of the applicator body;

a container of liquid received in a receiving structure of the applicator body, the applicator body defining a flow path for liquid to flow from the container to the applicator pad, the container having a closure portion which is openable to allow liquid to flow from the container into the flow path, the applicator body including an opening member which interacts with the front of the container when the container is moved to an opening position relative to the applicator body to open the openable closure portion; and

wherein the container defines a first chamber and a second chamber with a liquid-impermeable barrier between them, the first chamber having the openable closure portion at its front end and the barrier at its rear end, and

wherein the container includes one or more longitudinal pusher elements extending relatively movably between the ends of the front chamber, whereby operating movement of the opening member acting at the front end to open the openable closure portion is transmitted to the rear end by a follower action of said one or more longitudinal pusher elements to open the barrier.

2. An applicator according to claim 1 in which the closure portion comprises a sliding plug.

3. An applicator according to claim 1 in which the barrier comprises a sliding plug.

4. An applicator according to claim 1 whereby in an operating stroke in which the container moves to the opening position relative to the applicator body, the barrier opens at an intermediate stage of the operating stroke, before the closure portion opens.

5. An applicator according to claim 4 in which the closure portion comprises a plug, slidably movable over a distance long enough for said one or more longitudinal pusher elements to open the barrier while the plug remains sealed.

6. An applicator according to claim 4 in which the closure portion and the barrier comprise respective slidable plugs, connected by one or more longitudinal members constituting said one or more longitudinal pusher elements.

7. An applicator according to claim 1 in which the first chamber is defined in a self-contained insert comprising the barrier and the closure portion, and which is fitted into a main container in which the second chamber is defined behind the front chamber.

8. An applicator according to claim 1 in which the applicator body defines a path and the container has a projection which moves along the path as the container and applicator body are moved relative to one another to the opening position.

9. An applicator according to claim 8 in which the path has an intermediate abutment to interrupt the operating stroke at an intermediate point.

10. A surgical prep applicator comprising

an applicator body;

an applicator pad attached at a front part of the applicator body;

a pre-loaded container of liquid slidably received in a tubular receiving structure of the applicator body, the applicator body defining a flow path for liquid to flow from the container to the applicator pad, the container having a front end with an openable front closure portion which when opened allows liquid to flow from the container into the flow path, the applicator body including opening means having a projecting formation which interacts with the front of the container when the container is moved to an opening position relative to the applicator body, in an operating stroke which is a push of the container into the applicator body, to open the openable front closure portion; and

wherein the openable front closure portion of the container includes a front opening of the container which defines a sealing seat and a displaceable plug which fits in the sealing seat to close the front opening, and wherein the projecting formation is a projecting pusher formation, the displaceable plug being engageable by said projecting pusher formation in the operating stroke to slide the displaceable plug rearwardly out of the sealing seat in the front opening of the container, to create an opening for forward flow of the surgical prep liquid out of the container and into the flow path around the projecting pusher formation.

11. An applicator comprising:

an applicator body;

an applicator pad attached at a front part of the applicator body;

a container of liquid received in a receiving structure of the applicator body, the applicator body defining a flow path for liquid to flow from the container to the applicator pad, the container having a closure portion which is openable to allow liquid to flow from the container into the flow path, the applicator body including an opening structure which interacts with the front of the container when the container is moved to an opening position relative to the applicator body to open the openable closure portion; and

wherein the receiving structure of the applicator body defines a track, and the container received in the applicator body has a projection which moves in said track on movement of the container from an initial position to an opening position at which the closure portion thereof is opened by interaction with the opening structure of the applicator body, and wherein the receiving structure of the applicator body includes an abutment extending across a mouth of the track at a start level thereof, corresponding to initiation of the actuation movement, whereby to enter the track the projection on the container must be pushed past said abutment.

12. An applicator according to claim 11 wherein said abutment is a flexible stopper rib.

13. An applicator according to claim 12 in which the receiving structure for the applicator body defines a wider entry region above the flexible stopper rib, including a structure where the projection can rest without resting against the rib.

14. The surgical prep applicator according to claim 10 which the container is closed at the rear and the applicator body has a vent opening communicating into the flow path between the front opening of the container and the applicator pad.

15. The surgical prep applicator according to claim 10 in which the front closure portion comprises a film or foil seal to supplement the sealing by the displaceable plug.

16. The surgical prep applicator according to claim 10 in which the applicator body defines a path and the container has a projection which moves along the path as the container and applicator body are moved relative to one another in the operating stroke to the opening position.

17. An applicator comprising:

an applicator body;

an applicator pad located at one end of the applicator body, said applicator body defining a flow passage to said applicator pad;

a container constructed and arranged with a first chamber containing a first liquid and a second chamber containing a second liquid, said container having a flow barrier positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber, said container received in the applicator body and being movable therein, said first chamber including a flow opening which is openable by movement of said container; and

an opening member constructed and arranged to engage said first chamber, wherein movement of said container toward said opening member results in the opening of said flow barrier allowing flow of said second liquid from said second chamber into said first chamber and wherein with continued movement of said container, the flow opening is opened and said first and second fluids are able to flow from said first chamber via said flow passage to said applicator pad.

18. An applicator comprising:

an applicator body;

an applicator pad located at one end of the applicator body, said applicator body defining a flow passage to said applicator pad;

a container constructed and arranged with a first chamber with a first liquid and a second chamber with a second liquid, a portion of said container being received within said applicator body for axial movement therein, said container being rotationally movable relative to said applicator body;

an opening member positioned between said container and said applicator pad, wherein axial movement of said container toward said opening member releases said first and second liquids for flow to said applicator pad; and

said container including an abutment member which in a first position prevents said axial movement and said container being rotatable to a second position wherein said axial movement is permitted.

19. The applicator of claim 18 wherein said container includes a seal closing off one end of said container.

20. The applicator of claim 19 wherein said opening member being constructed and arranged to penetrate said seal for the release of liquid from at least one of said first and second chambers.

21. The applicator of claim 20 wherein said container includes a barrier positioned between said first chamber and said second chamber.

22. The applicator of claim 21 wherein said abutment member is a projection.

23. The applicator of claim 22 wherein said first position is a locked position with said projection extending over an edge of said applicator body.

24. An applicator comprising:

an applicator body;

an applicator pad located at one end the applicator body, said applicator body defining a flow passage to said applicator pad, and said applicator body defining a liquid exit hole;

a container constructed and arranged with a first chamber with a first liquid and a second chamber with a second liquid;

an opening member positioned between said container and said applicator pad, wherein movement of said container toward said opening member releases said first and second liquids for flow to said applicator pad; and

said opening member being constructed and arranged to create a tortuous flow path for liquid prior to reaching said liquid exit hole.

25. The applicator of claim 24 wherein said container includes a seal closing off one end of said container.

26. The applicator of claim 25 wherein said opening member being constructed and arranged to penetrate said seal for the release of liquid from at least one of said first and second chambers.

27. The applicator of claim 26 wherein said container includes a barrier positioned between said first chamber and said second chamber.

28. The applicator of claim 24 wherein a portion of said container being received within said applicator body for axial movement therein, said container being rotationally movable relative to said applicator body.

29. The applicator of claim 28 wherein said container including an abutment member which in a first position prevents said axial movement and said container being rotatable to a second position wherein said axial movement is permitted.